Distributional impact of monetary policy in the UK: from conventional to unconventional policy Articles uri icon

authors

  • Ballabriga, Fernando
  • DAVTYAN, KAREN

publication date

  • January 2021

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1748-7870

abstract

  • (copyright) 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.We evaluate the income distributional effect of monetary policy in the UK for the period 1993¿19 using a mixed frequency approach and a high-frequency identification. Our results indicate that expansionary monetary policy increased income inequality during the unconventional policy subperiod 2009¿19. Looking at the income brackets, we find that this increase in inequality is primarily due to the positive impact of expansionary policy on the upper share of income distribution. Our counterfactual analysis reveals that unconventional monetary policy contributed to the increase in inequality and that the response to COVID-19 is likely to do the same.

keywords

  • c32; d31; distribution channels; e52; identification; income inequality; monetary policy